St. Agatha-St. James Catholic Church sits at 38th and Chestnut Streets in the heart of Philadelphia's University City, a neo-Gothic landmark that has anchored the neighborhood since the 1880s. The parish, established in 1850 as the Church of St. James the Greater, was the first Catholic parish in Philadelphia County west of the Schuylkill River, and its stained glass and soaring interior still draw both longtime families and thousands of students from the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, whose campus ministry has been entrusted to the parish for more than a century.
A Parish Founded Before University City Had Its Name
The original parish was created in 1850, with land purchased at 38th and Chestnut and a church building erected within two years. By 1881, the congregation had outgrown that structure, and ground was broken on October 16 for a much larger building designed by Philadelphia architect Edwin Forrest Durang. The neo-Gothic church was completed in 1887, its interior modeled on the great European cathedrals, with stained glass that the parish credits to a craftsman who studied the famed cathedral of León in Spain. Additions came in 1930, and a major interior renovation followed in 2003, leaving the building's stately white and blue interior much as it appears today.
St. Agatha's Church, a few blocks away, closed in 1976, and its parish was merged into St. James. The result is the present-day parish of St. Agatha-St. James, with two patron saints - St. Agatha of Sicily (feast day February 5), a young consecrated virgin martyred during the persecution of Decius, and St. James the Greater (feast day July 25), the apostle and son of Zebedee who, tradition holds, spread the Gospel in Spain for forty years after Christ's Ascension.
The Newman Center: Catholic Life for Penn and Drexel Since 1893
The Newman Center, which operates out of a beautifully renovated building adjacent to the church at 111 S. 38th Street, has roots older than any other in the country. It was founded in 1893 at the University of Pennsylvania, the first Newman Club in America. A second center at 33 S. 33rd Street served Drexel students beginning in 1921; that building was sold in 2010, and the pastoral leadership of the Newman apostolates for both universities was entrusted to St. Agatha-St. James, which now serves as home for Catholic students from both schools. The center's motto - "Lead Kindly Light," drawn from St. John Henry Newman's famous hymn - appears on T-shirts sold through the parish's gear shop.
Together with FOCUS missionaries (the Fellowship of Catholic University Students), the staff run weekly Bible studies for men and women, mentorship and discipleship small groups, conferences, mission trips, and fellowship events for both campuses. The FOCUS team serving Penn and Drexel at the time of writing includes Isaac Cotnoir, Dominique Brutus, Enrique Alegria, Rebecca Richards, Annaliese Cotnoir, Claudio Hewgley, Abigail Hewgley, Katie Creamer, and Tim Broderick.
"Encounter. Grow. Serve."
The parish's own mission statement describes itself as "a Catholic community that works with the University City community, helping them to encounter Christ, grow in the Christian life, and be sent forth to serve as 'missionary disciples' from one heart to another." That threefold rhythm is summed up in the motto Encounter. Grow. Serve., and in the parish's strategic theme of being "A Church that Goes Out" - a phrase drawn from Pope Francis' call for a missionary Church. A five-year strategic plan launched in 2023 set concrete goals for growth: in the years since, weekly small-group participation has grown from about 100 to well over 500, and Sunday Mass attendance has climbed from roughly 600 to more than 800 each week.
Six core values shape this vision: being centered on Jesus under the guidance of Mary, practicing radical welcoming and intentional outreach, treating stewardship as a way of life, building authentic community, investing in faith formation, and committing to apostolic service.
Sunday Mass, Weekday Mass, and a Lively Intercultural Calendar
Three Sunday Masses are celebrated in the main church at 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. The 9:00 a.m. uses the standard hymnal repertoire; the 11:30 a.m. is a Solemn Mass with full choir and congregational hymnody; and the 5:30 p.m. is a folk-style guitar Mass. Each Sunday Mass is followed by a social in the renovated church hall beneath the sanctuary - coffee and donuts after the 9:00, hoagies after the 11:30, and pizza after the 5:30.
Weekday Masses are celebrated in the chapel on the second floor of the Newman Center, with visitors asked to ring the doorbell for entry. The normal schedule is 12:05 p.m. Monday through Friday, with an additional 5:30 p.m. Mass Tuesday through Friday. Confessions are heard thirty minutes before every Sunday Mass and can also be requested after weekday Masses or by appointment with Fr. Remigio Morales or Fr. Carlos Keen.
One of the most distinctive rhythms at St. Agatha-St. James is its Intercultural Ministry, built around four rotating Saturday evening vigil Masses, each followed by a community meal. Filipino Catholics gather for a 7:00 p.m. Mass and dinner on the first Saturday; Spanish-speaking parishioners celebrate at 5:30 p.m. on the second Saturday; Korean Catholics meet at 4:30 p.m. on the third Saturday; and a 5:30 p.m. Intercultural Mass and social rounds out the month on the fourth Saturday. All four take place in the Newman Chapel.
Eucharistic Adoration and the Rhythm of Prayer
From September through May, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration in three different settings: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 9:00 to 10:00 in the Newman Chapel; Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the same chapel; and Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the main church. The Newman Chapel is also open for personal prayer every day from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Becoming Catholic, Getting Married, and the Rest of Sacramental Life
The parish runs a full sacramental program. Those interested in becoming Catholic are welcomed into OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), which combines catechetical formation on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a Bible study small group and weekly Sunday Mass participation. Adults typically receive the sacraments of initiation - baptism, confirmation, and first Eucharist - at the Easter Vigil, with confirmations celebrated the following Sunday. Adult Confirmation is also offered as a separate track, with formation running from September through March.
Marriage preparation - what the parish calls Pre-Cana, after the wedding feast where Jesus performed his first miracle - includes an in-person orientation, several weeks of online work with the FOCCUS inventory, a full-day retreat at the Newman Center, and follow-up meetings with a facilitator. The program is open to couples from any faith tradition, and registration is $350 per couple. Pre-Cana sessions are offered each fall and spring.
Infant baptisms are typically scheduled on Sundays at 10:15 a.m. after the 9:00 Mass, one per Sunday, with parents expected to attend a Pre-Jordan seminar and to register as parishioners or obtain a letter of permission from their home parish. Adult baptisms usually take place at Easter through the OCIA process.
A Church Built for Weddings
Weddings are a significant part of parish life. The bright, stately interior is a popular setting for Catholic nuptial Masses and ceremonies. The church is generally available for weddings on Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and on Fridays between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m., and is not available on Sundays, Holy Saturday, or Fridays during Lent. Couples are asked to inquire at least nine months ahead of their date; the total parish fee is $2,000, with music arranged separately through the parish's Wedding Music Coordinator. Couples need to bring their own priest or deacon to celebrate the ceremony.
Music Ministry and Liturgical Volunteers
Music is led by Music Director Ramsey Reyes and a rotating team of cantors, pianists, choir members, and instrumentalists who rehearse one hour before each Mass in the choir loft. A mandatory choir practice takes place every other Sunday from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Beyond Sunday Masses, the ministry provides music for Thursday evening adoration, retreats, open-mic nights, and jam sessions.
Liturgical volunteers serve as altar servers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (with a particular interest in expanding the ministry to include visits to the sick and homebound), and lectors - the latter trained and commissioned twice a year.
Small Groups, Young Adults, and Adult Community
St. Agatha-St. James is organized around the conviction that faith grows best in community. The Young Adults and Grad Students group gathers on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Newman Center for fellowship, formation, and service; it is open to anyone between 21 and 35, from graduate students to young professionals. The Nazareth Group for young married couples meets on the last Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Newman Center Lounge, typically sharing a meal and a short presentation on married life in the Catholic tradition.
A parish Rosary Group prays together on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. over Zoom, while FOCUS Bible studies and discipleship groups meet throughout the week for Penn and Drexel students. Adult Ministry, coordinated by Carmen Sanchez and Louisa Owens, invites adults of all ages and backgrounds into recurring programs, retreats, social events, and service projects throughout the year.
Christ in the City: Homeless Outreach on the Streets of Philadelphia
The parish's signature outreach is Christ in the City (CIC), a homeless outreach that started in Denver and now operates in Philadelphia as a weekly ministry of St. Agatha-St. James. On the first and third Fridays of each month, volunteers meet at 6:00 p.m. in the Newman Center for a brief training and then head into Center City to spend time with men and women living on the streets. The point, the parish stresses, is not the small care packages that volunteers hand out but the encounter - getting to know each person, listening, and treating them as beloved children of God.
Other service opportunities include liturgical and music volunteering, hospital ministry, mission trips, and the Hospitality Team that keeps Sunday socials and events running.
The Team Behind It All
Fr. Remigio Morales serves as Pastor; he holds bachelor's and master's degrees in dogmatic theology from the Facultad de Teología Pontificia y Civil de Lima and a certificate in theological anthropology from the Universidad Católica de San Pablo in Arequipa, Peru. Fr. Michael Gokie is Parochial Vicar and Assistant Newman Director, with a bachelor's in philosophy and further study in theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Fr. Carlos Keen, who holds degrees in philosophy and theology from Lima, has served twelve years at St. Agatha-St. James and is moving in August 2026 to a new assignment at St. Patrick's Parish in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
Patrick Travers directs the Penn and Drexel Newman Apostolates; he earned a master's in spiritual accompaniment and vocational discernment from the Universidad de Comillas in Madrid and brings eight years of experience offering spiritual direction to young adults. The operations side is led by Chris George (Director of Operations), Marcela Figueroa (Office Manager and sacramental coordinator), Jule Coppa (Communications Director), Tim Broderick (Development Director), and Amy Burghardt (Development Manager). Among those focused on pastoral outreach are Grace Klein (Penn-Drexel Campus Minister), Anthony Quinn and Caitlyn Bell (Young Adult Ministry), Ramsey Reyes (Music Director), and Louisa Owens (Program Coordinator). The parish also lists Thibault Vincent on its team.
Getting to the Church, Parking, and Practical Details
The church stands at 3728 Chestnut Street, with the Newman Center at 111 S. 38th Street. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the main phone line is (267) 787-5000. Free parking is available for every Sunday Mass in the Santander Bank lot across the street; parking passes for Sunday and holy-day Masses, covering a one-block radius, can be requested through Chris George.
Public transportation is straightforward. From Center City, trolleys 11, 13, 34, or 36 drop riders at the 36th Street Station, a short walk west along Sansom; bus 21 stops at 38th and Walnut; and the Market-Frankford (Blue) Line's 34th Street stop is a few blocks south, with a walk west on Market to 37th and then north on Chestnut. Worshippers who cannot attend in person can watch Sunday Mass on WPVI-TV Channel 6 at 5:30 a.m., with rebroadcasts at 9:00 a.m. on DT-2 Channel 6 digital, 10:00 a.m. on La Salle University Channel 56, and 5:00 p.m. on DT-2.
Supporting the Parish
Parishioners and friends can give online through the parish's Bloomerang portal or through Venmo at @Saints-AJ. Stock gifts, donor-advised funds, IRA distributions, and planned or estate gifts are also welcome; the parish maintains the St. Agatha-St. James Legacy Society, established in 2024 to honor those who include the parish in their wills or beneficiary designations. The parish is a 501(c)(3) organization (Tax ID 23-1409686). The parish shop also sells T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, and even naming bricks for those who want to support the work in a tangible way.
For newcomers, the parish runs an online connection form that adds new arrivals to the parish listserv and an "I'm New Here" page that gathers the links that most visitors need first. From its neo-Gothic sanctuary on Chestnut Street to its renovated Newman Center on 38th, St. Agatha-St. James continues to serve as both a historic Philadelphia parish and the spiritual home of Catholic life for thousands of students across University City.